Secure Web-Based Content Distribution System (CDS)

ABSTRACT: The Air Force currently relies on large, fixed nodes, such as the Air Operations Center, for their command and control (C2) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) needs. These sites are tasked with providing critical processing, analysis and dissemination. This centralized approach localizes mission critical data in information enclaves and creates a communications bottleneck that makes dissemination susceptible to disconnected, intermittent, and limited (DIL) connectivity. As a result information is not adequately pushed to the edge, pulled from it, or distributed amongst tactical edge nodes. Securboration proposes to develop a layered system called the Intelligent C2 Content Distribution System (IC2CDS) that has the potential to enable seamless information exchange among nodes in the GIG, from the outermost tactical nodes to the large CONUS intelligence centers, and vice versa. IC2CDS uses a semantic model to understand the context of the mission space and information exchange requirements. This intelligently determines which information products need to be propagated throughout nodes on the GIG, and how that exchange should transpire. Once this determination is made, WAN Optimization techniques, in conjunction with the security controls ensure that the transaction occurs in an optimized and secure manner. BENEFIT: This research has broad applicability in both the military and commercial domains. In the military, it can benefits the vision of forward operating nodes that seamlessly access the information they need, even in disconnected, intermittent, and limited connectivity environments. In one specific forward operating example, IC2CDS can support information exchange among Falconer AOC"s attached to a combat Air Force and other functional AOCs (e.g. those supporting space and mobility). In the commercial domain, our Letter of Support from Circadence testifies to the need and viability of IC2CDS. The ability to provide contextual, intelligent routing and optimization is lacking in current CDN commercial implementations. Our partnership with Circadence provides a transition path to embed this IC2CDS into Circadence"s product line, and Circadence"s ongoing military related efforts will help to ensure IC2CDS is available to support the troops in the field.